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Synopsis: Marvel’s “Iron Man 3″ pits brash-but-brilliant industrialist Tony Stark/Iron Man against an enemy whose reach knows no bounds. When Stark finds his personal world destroyed at his enemy’s hands, he embarks on a harrowing quest to find those responsible.

CAST

Robert Downey Jr……………………….Tony Stark/Iron Man

Gwyneth Paltrow……………………………………. Pepper Potts

Don Cheadle…………………………………. Col. James Rhodes

Guy Pearce…………………………………………… Aldrich Killian

Rebecca Hall…………………………………….Dr. Maya Hansen

Stephanie Szostak………………………………………Ellen Brandt

James Badge Dale………………………………………….Eric Savin

Jon Favreau ……………………………………………..Happy Hogan

Ben Kingsley……………………………………………the Mandarin

Ty Simpkins…………………………………………………………Harley

Review: Iron Man 3 ushers in the official start to summer blockbuster season, and what a good way to kick things off. There are three things to think about, other than the fact that this is the third installment:

1) How solid the storyline is and how it has action, pathos and heart.

2) How terrific the acting is with this top notch cast.

3) Was the showing of bomb blast that hurt the people Tony Stark loves, too soon after the Boston bombings. (More on this later)

Marvel media has been miles ahead of the competition in the Super Hero film genre, this film is another example of their good story telling. I will start with the cast:

Robert Downey Jr. is perfect for the role of Tony Stark. He once again proves his charm and witticism as he narrates the story in flashback. In this film Tony moves away from being the playboy, millionaire, narcissist and starts to grow-up. The entire story centers on the demons he has created through the years, through his scientific research and his shallow callousness. Downey does this perfectly well; let’s just say he was born to play the part. Throughout the film you can see that Stark is fighting his own demons, he has been having PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) since the end of the Avengers and this is where the film picks-up his story. Stark is questioning his past as well what’s ahead.

Gwyneth Paltro as Stark’s girlfriend, Pepper Potts, who now runs Stark Industries, also changes but is steadfast in her love for Tony. She falls victim to a terrorist organization headed by The Manderin and the chase begins. Pepper is strong in many ways, she stands by Tony and puts up with his boyish behavior, worries about how the PTSD is effecting him and suffers through watching the Stark Mansion get blown to bits.

Don Cheadle plays Col. James Rhodes,former Stark employee, now working for the defense department. He still marvels at Tony and the two of them ultimately are forced to work together due to circumstances. Tony always has the upper hand as Rhodes watches in awe. Their on screen chemistry is great together.

Guy Pierce as scientist geek, Aldrich Killian, is spurned by Tony in a flashback from 1999. His experiments in genetic engineering are blown off by Tony and he spends the next 13 years, through research, plotting his revenge. How does this tie-in with The Manderin, played by Ben Kingsley, the answer is told in the film, no spoilers here.

Ben Kingsley plays The Manderin, a terrorist who is hell-bent on teaching America and the President a lesson. The mystery lies in his bombing attacks that leave no evidence of a bomb or bomb parts at the scene of the attacks. Kingsley has many secrets and his acting as always is right on the money. He gets to play both serious and comedic and he navigates this brilliantly. He looks like he was having a good time.

This brings me to the question of the Boston bombing, was watching bombs go off critically hurting Stark’s friend and former bodyguard Happy, a little too soon for most audiences? Many people were critically wounded in the Boston tragedy and to see Stark seeking revenge for his friend, Happy, may be too uncomfortable for some. The filmmakers did not know in advance of the Boston events, it wasn’t anyone’s fault really that this film came out so close to the Marathon tragedy. I hope people will go to see it and just lose themselves into a good story.

On a lighter note, Marvel Comics founder Stan Lee does his Hitchcock cameo in this film. Can you spot him?…..

Synopsis: Norse GodLoki, brother of the hammer wielding Thor , steals the Tesseract, the all powerful gamma ray infested cube of power and portal to the Norse realm, in order to enslave the earth and all its people. Nick Fury leader of S.H.I.E.L.D, an international secret organization designed to defend the earth against military attacks, restarts the abandoned Avengers Initiative by calling upon Captain America, Iron Man, The Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye to stop Loki from sending for his army and enslaving mankind. In theaters in 3D and 2D.

Robert Downey Jr. reprises his role as Tony Stark/Iron Man for the third time, Chris Evans reprises his role as Steve Rodgers/CaptainAmerica as does Scarlett Johansson reprising her role from Iron Man 2 portrays Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow, Chris Helmsworth as Thor, Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Gweneth Paltrow as Pepper Potts, Clark Gregg as Phil Coulson and Stellen Skarsgard as Erik Selvig With newcomers Mark Ruffallo as Bruce Banner/Hulk and Jeremy Renner as Clint Barton/Hawkeye rounding out the cast.

Review:Having grown up on Marvel comics and also enjoying the previous films that led up to The Avengers I went into the film with much anticipation and I was not disappointed. The film is a blend of action summer blockbuster, sci-fi, and family relationships all held together by enough humor to captivate and at the same time not take itself too seriously. The story starts out slow then takes off at the arrival of Robert Downey Jr.’s Tony Stark. The first 30 minutes or so are taken up by Loki’s arrival on earth to steal the Tesseract from S.H.I.E.L.D headquarters after that the fun begins. Tony Stark’s character is given all the smart, sarcastic and pompous things to say and his interactions with the serious Captain America as well as the other Avengers really gives the film a sense of humor. Marvel heroes have always been multi – layered individuals who are not only fighting the war but are continually struggling with their own internal battles, it is this human connection that keeps you rooting for them and going back to watch them film after film. Look for the Hulk having a smashing time with Loki and his hordes, the interpersonal relationships as they develop between Thor and his brother Loki, and the the entire Avenger’s Team. Also see if you can find Marvel comics founder, Stan Lee’s cameo.

The film has enough going for it to please everyone including fan-boys, comic geeks and those of the general audience. This is solid entertainment and of course sequel worthy. The film already generated over 200 million in box office overseas and will probably surpass that figure here in the states.

As far as the 3D experience goes the film that set the pace for the others in total 3D immersion was of course John Cameron’s Avatar. The use of 3D worked best during the war scenes between Loki’s army using New York City as the battleground, otherwise I would have to say save your money and see it in 2D you won’t be missing much but do see it.

I couldn’t help but the remember my favorite comic book as a teen NICK FURY AGENT OF S.H.I.E.L.D as written and drawn by the great Jim Steranko, let’s just say Nick Fury was not Samuel L. Jackson. That said Jackson plays it perfect and for those who don’t have a memory such as mine he is the new face of Fury.